Man found dead in Dunedin Botanic Garden named

A police officer guards the site where the body of a Dunedin man was found in the Dunedin Botanic Garden early yesterday. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Police have named a 27-year-old unemployed Dunedin man whose
death has been linked to "huffing" after gas canisters were
found near his body in the Dunedin Botanic Garden early
yesterday.

He was Joshua Robert Tunnicliffe, of no fixed abode.

Police could not confirm whether Mr Tunnicliffe died as a
result of inhaling butane and have referred his death, which
was not considered suspicious, to the coroner. It was likely
a postmortem would be conducted.

"Evidence at the scene suggested that [huffing] played a
component," Acting Senior Sergeant Dave Scott said.

A member of the public discovered the man's body about 8.45am
and alerted police.

The body was found on a main path in the gardens.

Mr Tunnicliffe was a "recent" Dunedin resident with links to
the North Island, where his next of kin lived.

"We believe he's passed away during the hours of darkness and
been found by a member of the public in the morning.

"The exact time of death is unknown at this stage."

Police were not seeking anyone in relation to the death.

Recent huffing incidents in and around Dunedin have sparked
nationwide concern.

On July 1, Mosgiel teenagers Jamie Jury (18) and Brendon
McLeod (17) were critically injured when lpg gas bottles they
were inhaling from exploded.

Both received extensive burns and Mr Jury remains in a
Christchurch hospital, having come out of an induced coma
while in the intensive care unit at Auckland's Middlemore
Hospital.

His father, Steven Jury, said huffing-related incidents
seemed to be increasing.

Anyone tempted to inhale gas should seriously consider the
consequences, he said.

"If they had seen what I've had to go through, they would
think twice. I sat over Jamie for a month before he twitched
a finger or batted an eyelid, while the doctors said he
wouldn't make it ... It was a miracle that he came out of
it."

Toxicologist Dr Leo Schep, of the National Poisons Centre in
Dunedin, said if the man found yesterday had been inhaling a
propellant, such as butane, propane or lpg, then his death
would not be unexpected.

"Assuming it was a butane product, we would be very
concerned. It's a very common cause of death, called sudden
sniffing death syndrome, which is essentially heart failure."

In September, Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean released a
report into huffing-related deaths, having found that 63
people had died in butane inhalation-related incidents since
2000.

Dr Schep said it was unacceptable to have so many deaths
related to a given type of product.

He applauded retailers who had voluntarily restricted the
sale of butane-based products.

Greater education about huffing dangers would be beneficial.

"It's a stupid way of getting high - the risks are too great.

"The Government is aware now of the enormity of the problem
and we are aware of how deadly these products are. They can
kill and that message needs to be drummed into people."